The Sims 3 Guide - Life Guide

Full-Time Jobs

Business

Basics: The Business career may sound a bit generic, but in fact, it can be quite addictive to work your way up through the office based environment. It is a cut-throat career to follow, with plenty of sucking-up to bosses and hard work required to advance.

You need a good relationship with bosses and a regular positive mood. No specific skills are necessary to succeed in business.

TIP: In the Business career, you are given control over meetings once a certain level is reached. This means you are often forced to spend time outside working hours trying to impress your superiors. Once the Power Broker level is reached, you work hardly any hours, but can schedule meetings for big bucks on top of your weekly wage.

TIP: To improve your relationship with your superiors, try the Suck Up To Boss action while at work; note, however, that this will decrease your relationships with co-workers. If in a good mood, the Power Work action will add much to your chances of earning a promotion – just make sure it doesn't come at the expense of your stress levels or work performance will drop.

Criminal

Basics: This is a fun career for many players of The Sims, especially those with Sims bearing Traits such as Evil. Surprisingly, you can apply for a 'job' as a criminal by answering an advert in the newspaper or indeed on a Computer.

Criminals need the Athletic skills to acquire promotions. There is also the usual good mood needed on a regular basis.

TIP: The key to succeeding as a criminal is making friends in the industry. Use the Meet Accomplices and Conspire With Accomplices actions while at work to build these relationships and help earn promotions.

TIP: In the Thief branch of the Criminal career, Sims can use the Sneak action. This allows them to enter other Sims' homes without them waking up! If you do get caught however (watch out for burglar alarms!), you do have to go to jail for a period.

TIP: Those who are truly evil (i.e. Emperors of Evil!) will scare off anyone with cowardly traits! This may not be useful, but it's particularly cool.

Culinary

Basics: As well as having an extensive skill-tree relating to Cooking, Sims who love food can adopt a career in this area.

Sims in the Journalism career need to interview fellow Sims and write news reports on them – try to get the interviewee on side first with some flattery.

Key Skills:

Both Writing and Charisma are important skills for earning promotions as a journalist. Sims can use the Practice Writing action while at work to level up the Writing skill as they go.

TIP: Sims in the Journalism career must write articles and reviews on their computer at home – outside of work hours! This is required for promotions, and requires interviewing Sims around Sunset Valley or attending certain events for reviews.

TIP: At Level 10 your Sim can brag about a news story in conversation.

Law Enforcement

Basics: The antithesis of the Criminal career, the Law Enforcement occupation is one for good-hearted and brave Sims, seeking to make a difference (a positive one) in Sunset Valley.

You need the Logic skill as a given, but once the career splits in two you require either the Painting skill (for Forensics) or the Athletic skill (for Special Agent) in order to seriously progress.

TIP: Sims at Level 3 in the overall Law Enforcement career can catch burglars.

TIP: Earlier on in the career you need to build a strong relationship with your partner on the beat. Use the Chat With Partner action to accomplish this.

TIP: Law Enforcement Sims can search through other Sims' rubbish to gather information. They can also interview other Sims with the same result.

TIP: Special Agents can use the Raid Warehouse action to search the Outstanding Citizen Warehouse Corp. (at Level 5) to earn some money and kudos on the side, while Forensic Sims get their own Laptop and can use the Run Analysis action to earn some cash too.

Medical

Basics: Busy, stressful, but making a huge difference to the lives of everyone in Sunset Valley, those willing to follow medicine will have to devote their life to the profession – the rewards are there to be had, however.

You need to make sure your Sim is decent at the Guitar skill before trying to make it as a musician, for fairly obvious reasons. In the Symphonic branch you also need to level up your Logic skill to progress. You can use the Study Music Theory action while at work to improve both of these.

TIP: Once you embark on the Rock branch you can hold concerts at the theatre and stadium (when you interact with it). Use the Practice Performance action while at work to prepare in advance and make the performance go better.

TIP: As a Rock Star, Sims don't have to work if they don't want to. Holding concerts and autograph sessions is the chief money-making asset here.

TIP: Symphonic-branch Sims get a new stereo for the house at Level 5, as well as free entry to the theatre at Level 3.

Politics

Basics: The main skill involved in politics is Charisma. Convincing other Sims of your own ability to lead is integral in advancing through the political ranks. Some don't like politicians, and it will be your duty to drum up support ahead of important campaigns.

Politicians need Charisma as well as plenty of energy with all the campaigning that takes place.

TIP: Be sure to use the Ask For Campaign Donation once at Level 5 in order to gain future promotions. You can also throw campaign parties to get donations too.

TIP: At certain points throughout the career you will be offered the chance to take a bribe or be corrupt. If you are caught then your career as a politician is over.

TIP: At the highest level, other Sims are inspired and will wave at you if they spot you.

Professional Sports

Basics: For Sims well versed or interested in developing the Athletics skill, a career in Professional Sports is the best bet. A legion of adoring fans is just one of the perks for those who succeed in this career.

The Athletic skill is obviously the main one here. Sims can use the Work Out In Gym action to improve it while they are at work.

TIP: At Level 5 Sims start playing matches in their sport and must maintain a decent win-loss record to get future promotions. Improving the Athletic skill and using the Prepare For Game action both increase the chance of winning.

TIP: At Level 10 Sims can hold autograph and sponsorship sessions for some cash on the side.

Science

Basics: Up there with the Medicine career for real intellectuals, the Science career is a more structured alternative. As a result however, the rewards are not so great.

Surprisingly, the Gardening, Handiness and Fishing skills (the latter two come later, however) are required to reach the top of the Science career.

TIP: Use the Do Independent Experiment action to help get promotions as quickly as possible.

TIP: At Level 10, Sims can use the Do Science action on objects. This works like upgrading an item through Handiness (though with different results), and can have positive or negative effects depending on the action's success.